Honorary secretary's resignation demanded

CGSI managing committee member Dhumak writes to chairman of consumer body after MiD DAY report, says many want honorary secy Kamath to resign

The controversy over alleged financial irregularities in the Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI) may cost a senior functionary of the consumer body his post following a MiD DAY report on the malpractices. It is now learnt that CGSI managing committee member Anil Dhumak, in a letter to chairman Sitaram Dixit (copy available with MiD DAY), has demanded the immediate resignation of honorary secretary Manohar Kamath after reading the October 31 news report.

The October 31 MiD DAY report on alleged irregularities in CGSI reimbursement claims

In the letterThe letter dated November 1 lists various issues to be taken up in the forthcoming CGSI managing committee meeting this month. The letter demands deliberation on current status of the correspondence with SEBI, the amount of cleared reimbursements and, lastly, the resignation of Manohar Kamath. "There are serious allegations against him (Kamath) and the SEBI matter is going to be raised in the Lok Sabha in the Winter Session. He (Manohar Kamath) must not be allowed to handle financial, administrative affairs of the CGSI. Many life members of CGSI, ex-chairman, ex-office bearers and ex-managing committee members have contacted me after reading the MiD-DAY report (Dt. October 31) and asked me to take this issue in the Managing Committee meeting and relieve him of his post," says the letter.

MiD DAY had reported on October 31 (SEBI pulls up consumer body over suspected irregularities in bills) about the market watchdog rejecting several reimbursement claims worth Rs 3 Lakh submitted by CGSI, which is one of the several consumer organisations recognised by SEBI for conducting seminars and functions on behalf of it. The expenses incurred by CGSI for the programmes are reimbursed by SEBI. Another issue raised in the letter is that of a donation of Rs 3 lakh from one Emkay Printers made in May. Emkay printers is owned by the wife of Kamath and the donation was made right after reimbursements of the same amount were rejected by SEBI. This suggests the tacit involvement of Kamath in the alleged irregularities.

Kamath refused to comment on the issue, saying he was in an important meeting in Kolkata. "Please talk to the chairman regarding the issue," he said. Chairman Dixit said he would be unable to comment since he was in Kanpur. "I am yet to see the letter and will return to Mumbai on Saturday. I will resume office on Monday and then take the necessary course of action after carefully reading the letter," he said.